Run for Olivia – Every Step Makes a Difference

Join us for our 10K Run/Walk and help us raise vital funds for Olivia’s life-changing medical treatment.

By taking part, you’ll not only be helping one incredible little girl, but you’ll also be raising awareness of Doose Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy that affects children and their families every single day.

We ask each participant to aim to raise a minimum of £100 in sponsorship. Every penny raised goes directly towards funding Olivia’s privately prescribed medical treatment, which has transformed her quality of life but is not funded by the NHS.

How you can help

* Sign up for our 10K Run/Walk.

* Raise at least £100 through sponsorship from friends, family and colleagues.

* Share your fundraising page on social media to help spread awareness and encourage others to support the cause.

Together, we can give Olivia the opportunity to keep living the life every child deserves.

Meet Olivia

Hello, my name is Julie, and I’m the proud mum of an amazing 12-year-old girl named Olivia.

When Olivia was just 15 months old, she was diagnosed with Doose Syndrome, a rare and severe form of epilepsy. Since then, our lives have been shaped by a condition that most people have never even heard of.

As Olivia grew older, her epilepsy became increasingly severe. At its worst, she was experiencing more than 300 seizures every single day and was repeatedly admitted to hospital with non-convulsive status epilepticus. We exhausted every treatment available through the NHS, trying countless anti-epileptic medications. Sadly, while some offered limited seizure control, the side effects were devastating.

In February 2021, Olivia underwent a corpus callosotomy—major brain surgery that we hoped would reduce her seizures. Instead, they increased dramatically. Combined with the side effects of her medication, Olivia lost so much of her independence. She relied on a wheelchair for safety, could no longer attend school full-time, and the happy, carefree little girl we knew seemed to disappear. Watching her struggle was heartbreaking.

Everything changed when we discovered a new medical treatment through Curaleaf Clinic (formerly Sapphire Clinic). After hearing about the success other children with treatment-resistant epilepsy were experiencing, we knew we had to try one last option. Olivia received her first prescription in January 2022, and I began fundraising a few months later to help cover the cost of this life-changing treatment.

Although Olivia still lives with epilepsy and isn’t seizure-free, the difference has been remarkable. Her seizures have reduced significantly, allowing her to come off some of the medications that caused such severe side effects. Most importantly, she has her smile back.

Today, Olivia is thriving in ways we once only dreamed of. She has started high school, where she’s growing in confidence and beginning to discover who she is. Like many 12-year-olds, she’s developing her own style, loves shopping for clothes, enjoys experimenting with makeup, and is embracing all the exciting milestones that come with becoming a teenager. She’s made new friends, enjoys spending time with them, and is finally getting the chance to experience the childhood we feared epilepsy had taken away.

These may seem like ordinary moments, but for our family they are extraordinary milestones that we never thought we’d see.

Olivia’s private medical treatment has given her the opportunity to enjoy life again. It hasn’t cured her epilepsy, but it has given her back so much of what the condition had stolen.

Unfortunately, this treatment is not funded by the NHS, meaning we must continue to pay for it privately. Without it, we risk losing the incredible progress Olivia has worked so hard to achieve.

Every donation, every sponsorship, and every person who takes part in our 10K helps ensure Olivia can continue receiving the medication that has transformed her life.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting Olivia. Your kindness, generosity and encouragement mean more to our family than words can ever express.

Your support isn’t just funding medication—it’s helping Olivia stay in school, build friendships, discover who she is, and enjoy the childhood every child deserves.